Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-03-07
A Noble Revenge.

MOO surname was bangs. the
vowel of which was unduly prolonged
by the Smoketonians, as her diph-
thong was unjustly shortened. There
was nothing visibly heroic about Mod.
| She was the eldest daughter of a
Smoketon operative, teaching in one
of the Smoketon public schools. She
was small and slender, awkward in
person and movements, with a pro-
truding forehead, lifeless looking
sandy hair, and small, dull, unex-
pressive eyes.
Stephen Dare was not bad fellow
especially in his own opinion. He
was a handsome young giant, with a
frank, merry face, usually Obscured
bv cloud of SCOT; for Stephen, tho
only twenty-five years old, was a
ssboss" at Browns mill, the largest
nail mill in Smoketon. He was well
off, too-very wealthy for a place
whose richest men only counted by
tens of thousands so it is not WON
derful, perhaps, that he was much
petted and spoiled by the Smoketon
lasses.
The Eleventh Ward schoOl-house
was on Stephens direct way home
from work, and as Mod always re-
mained there until six o'clock to
study, Stephen had got in the habit
of calling for her; and thence, one
September afternoon, they were walk
ing home together, when they first
met Myra Tracy.
''By jinks amt she daisy" ex-
claimed Stephen, recovering his
breath and his Smoketon vernacular
when the vision was gone. "She's
awfully swell, but I'll bet you've got
as much money every time. Look
here, Mod, don't tell anybody, but l
wouldn't mind marrying that girl -
s'Whether she would have you or
not, l suppose"
"Have me She'd be lucky to get
me-poor as church mouse. Shed
Jump at me, / knowr'
Stephen was more in earnest than
Mod supposed.
1t was a difficult matter to get an
introduction to Miss Tracy, and when
he asked permission to call, the girl
had not, as she said afterward, suf-
ficient presence of mind to refuse.
Myra, indeed, was profoundly anus
Ul e-e ha~a91f nnd ooo~AA1sr1nSs so at
Stephen. The handsome illiterate
young giant was a new type to the
highbred, ''cultured" Philadelphia
and, though she considered flirting
very unladylike proceeding, her es-
thetic interest was sufficiently visible
to afford Stephen all the encourage
ment he needed. When Stephen, at
last, asked Myra to be his wife, and
was rejected with naughty surprise
which she could not quite conceal, it
was Mod who was the least astOnish-
ed. Stephen believed he understood
the whole matter perfectly, for it
was, in fact, the presence of Champ
Preston in Smoketon which had hur
ried him on to declaration.
ga long, lazy, tow-headed fool,
was his terse description of the all
conquering Champ, whose soft voice,
handsome face, languid elegance of
manner, not to speak of his attrac-
tions in the way of stocks, bonds and
landed property, had for several sea-
sons made him the lion of Eastern
society. He had been abroad at the
time of Mr.. Traoy's death.
Immediately upon his return he
followed Myra to Smoketon, where,
he coolly informed her, it was his in
tention to bivouac with the aborigi-
nee until she was ready to be married
and return with him to civilization.
Myra readily allowed herself to be
persuaded. Smoketon was more dis
tasteful to her than ever since Ste
phen had taken his dismissal in such
vehemently bad part.
The wedding day arrived at last
warm February morning, pouring
with rain. Indeed it had rained for
two days over all the surrounding
country. The river was unusually
high, and the Smoketon Trumpet had
already warned it's readers to expect
a food.
Mod had reason to fear that Ste
phen intended to do some injury to
his successful rival. She knew he
had bought revolver, and she saw
him going to the railway station on
the morning of the wedding as if to
lie in wait for the bridal party She
followed him and found him there.
ssStephen," she said, holding his
eyes with hers, .ithey will not leave
tonight. The river is rising; all
Smoketon is under water, and the
people are drowning. Come with
me and save them. Come, Stephen"
she added solemnly, as he hesitated,
gazing Ia surprise at her transformed
eountenance. 'sprove yourself man
worth loving. Let that be your re-
venge."
s.Blamed if | don't p said Stephen
Dare.
He walked forward a step, drew
his hand from his breast, and with
Yhirl of his wrist sent something
br,ght, cleaning, and sparkling
into the fast approaching water. Then
taking Mod by the arm, he hurried